Compressed gaseous oxidizer energy storage system

ABSTRACT

A compressed gaseous oxidizer energy storage (COES) system includes a catalyst system in communication with a compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system and a compressed gas fuel storage system.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to compressed gaseous oxidizer energy storage.

A Compressed Oxidizer Energy Storage (COES) system refers to the compression of a gaseous oxidizer for later use as an energy source. At a utility scale, compressed gaseous oxidizer from a wind generation or other system may be stored during periods of low energy demand then used to accommodate periods of higher demand. The COES may also be scaled for use in other systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawing that accompanies the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a Compressed Gaseous Oxidizer Energy Storage (COES) system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a compressed gaseous oxidizer energy storage (COES) system 20. The system 20 generally includes a compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22 with an associated metering valve 24, a compressed gas fuel storage system 26 with an associated metering valve 28 and a catalyst system 30.

It should be understood that the system 20 may be of various scales from, for example, a power utility scale in which the compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22 (e.g., compressed air) may be an underground cavern to a relatively small scale such as a tank which may be contained within a Un-interruptible Power Supply (UPS) or other portable device or vehicle. The compressed gas fuel storage system 26 may be of a capacity associated with the compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22. The catalyst system 30 may also be of a capacity associated with the compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22 and may be manufactured of, for example, noble metals similar to a catalytic converter.

The compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22 and the compressed gas fuel storage system 26 are in communication with the catalyst system 30 through control devices 24, 26 (e.g., valves and regulators). The compressed gaseous oxidizer from the compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system 22 and the compressed gas fuel such as hydrogen, methane, propane, or other gas fuels from the compressed gas fuel storage system 26 are mixed through the valves 24, 26 at a desired ratio prior to communication with the catalyst system 30.

The mixture is communicated to the catalyst system 30 below combustible limits to form a catalytic reaction. The catalytic reaction, rather than a combustion reaction, generates hot gas which increases the amount of the stored energy beyond the energy of the separately stored gases. Whereas the compressed gaseous oxidizer and fuel gas react catalytically in an oxygen rich environment, no unburned hydrocarbons result. Also, as no combustion flame or ignition system is required, low to no nitrous oxide emissions are generated which may result in an essentially breathable product. The system 20 provides an essentially infinitely variable range of discharge temperatures from, for example, ambient to over 1,700 F and may generally increases available energy by a factor of at least 2 to 4 times compressed gaseous oxidizer alone.

The hot gaseous oxidizer from the catalytic reaction may thereby be communicated for later use in an expansion system 32 such as an expansion engine, Brayton cycle gas turbine or other power generation device tool, vehicle, or system. In another non- limiting embodiment, the system 20 may be utilized within an un-interruptible power supplies (UPS) or other system to replace a battery. In another non-limiting embodiment, the system 20 may be utilized in a back pack for a first responder to provide a portable power supply.

It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.

Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content. 

1. A compressed gaseous oxidizer energy storage (COES) system comprising: a compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system; a compressed gas fuel storage system; and a catalyst system in communication with said compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system and said compressed gas fuel storage system.
 2. The COES system as recited in claim 1, wherein said compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system is in communication with said compressed gas fuel storage system upstream of said catalyst system.
 3. The COES system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a metering valve associated with each of said compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system and said compressed gas fuel storage system.
 4. The COES system as recited in claim 1, wherein a compressed gaseous oxidizer from said compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system and a compressed gas fuel from said compressed gas fuel storage system is communicated to said catalyst system below a predetermined combustible limit.
 5. The COES system as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst system causes a catalytic reaction to generate a hot compressed gaseous oxidizer.
 6. The COES system as recited in claim 1, wherein said compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system is a tank.
 7. A method generating a hot compressed gaseous oxidizer comprising: mixing a compressed gaseous oxidizer from a compressed gaseous oxidizer storage system with a compressed gas fuel from a compressed gas fuel storage system; and communicating the mixture to a catalyst system below a predetermined combustible limit.
 8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising not generating a combustion reaction.
 9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising increasing an available energy of the compressed gaseous oxidizer by a factor of at least two (2) without a combustion step. 